You get the urge to go to a bar

In an era of high-tech, spectacles and political manoeuvring, it may be worth considering the low-tech, everyday events and the future course of events. In 1821, the French carpenter, Emile Verrière, had an idea that - if you consider the indirect effects - came to influence the world to such an extent that is difficult to imagineI assume this is what the author actually meant.